Total of 16 missiles fired during tests in southern Ukraine

All targets were hit, the defence minister says.

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The air defence units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Air Force have successfully launched 16 guided surface-to-air medium-range missiles as part of the life fire tests in Kherson Region which started today. Thus, they have completed their missions for today in full.

"Together with General Staff Commander Viktor Muzhenko, we reported to the president of Ukraine and supreme commander-in-chief that 16 missiles were launched. The range of assigned tasks was completed, the fire practice was a success as all the targets were hit. The exercise is over for today," Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He added that the exercise would continue on 2 December.

The Ukrainian General Staff also published a video of the exercise.

It said the launches were made from a temporary pad near Oleksandrivka, Kherson Region.

According to National Security and Defence Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, the missiles hit aerial and surface targets.

Media seen as "objective" may be helping Putin to form the regime's positive image abroad when they publish information "leaked" by the authorities or interview controversial persons, the author suggests.

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